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A MEMÓRIA DA ALMA

Abstract

Current reading of Camões' Sonnet Alma minha gentil... does imply, inappropriately, a biographic approach. Against this usual misinterpretation, two aspects are to be emphasized, one concerning the literary tradition of beloved's planctus in morte, tracing back to Petrarch's Canzoniere, the other suggesting a philosophical-theological source of "memória da alma", as being a foundamental concept of St. omas' Quaestio de anima. at brings us to consider the religious questions, both theological and doctrinal, which were controversial throughout the XVI th century, as well as their possible in uence on the Renaissance Portuguese literature.